news details |
|
|
| Ensure hassle-free stay of tourists and pilgrims | | | Now that the tourist season to Kashmir has begun with over 5,000 holidayers visiting Srinagar per day,and the annual Amarnath yatra to begin within next 18 days it is time for the state Government to keep a vigil on profiteers.During the ongoing tourist and pilgrim traffic to Srinagar people have to bank on air and rail services besides the journey by buses and cabs.It has been seen that the airlines have enhanced the fare on Delhi-Srinagar and Srinagar-Delhi route.
Even the drivers plying their buses on Srinagar-Jammu highway keep the fare fluctuating. And hoteliers and housebot owners may not shirk in taking advantage of the heavy tourist traffic to Kashmir.It would be better for the state Government to take up with the airlines operators and the railways authorities the issue of introducing subsidised fare.
between Delhi and Srinagar and between Jammu and Delhi.It would encourage bigger tourist traffic to Kashmir.Since over 55 lakh pilgrims visit Vaishnov Devi each year it was the duty of the state Government to ensure that not a single pilgrim was fleeced by traders and hoteliers.Invariably pilgrims are cheated by cab drivers,traders and hoteliers.
The concerned Government agency needs to intervene so that hoteliers revise their rates and introduce concession for the pilgrims.Cab drivers enjoy a field day whenever the pilgrim or tourist traffic to Jammu or Srinagar registers an upward trend.While militancy did not affect the pilgrim traffic to Vaishnov Devi the tourist traffic to Kashmir was hit by the rise of terrorism in the valley.Between 1990 and 1996 number of visitors who visited Kashmir could be counted on finger tips when prior to militancy the valley
would witness anything between 6 lakh and7.5 lakh touists per year.Even after the resumption of tourist traffic to Kashmir since 1996 militants kicked up violence,which included firing on tourist coaches,the annual tourist traffic got hit. The Government should accord top priority to security of the visitors and pilgrims.Whenever tourist traffic picks up one finds joy and happiness reflected on the faces of traders,hoteliers,transporters and houseboat owners.It is so because tourism has been the backbone of the state's economy.If the state Government succeeds in keeping the tourist season an incident free event the tourist season could be extended from three months to
more than six months.And for ensuring tourist traffic to Jmmu and Kashmir round the year more visitor-friendly measures were called for so that each tourist and pilgrim enjoyed a hassle-free stay in the state.It would be better if more tourist resorts were thrown open for the visitors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
